The Houston Area G Gaguers model railroad club was formed in 1987 and draws membership from the greater Houston area. Owership of a train or layout is not required to become a member. We usually hold our business meetings six times a year on the second Sunday of even months from 2 to 5 p.m. at members homes. We have "Run Day", where we get together and run our trains on the Rosenberg Railroad Museum garden railroad on the fourth Sunday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m. We also do about four train shows in the area each year. Many of our members get together at each outhers home to run trains and enjoy each others company.

The track we use represents various scales of trains. The track is 45mm wide and yet you are not limited to the one scale of trains can you operate. The size of the rolling stock changes with each scale to the same size of track. The chart to the right should help you to understand the different scales.

Our Trains

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The trains we have at the HAGG display are officially called Large Scale Trains on #1 Gauge track, but are familiarly called G Gauge or G Scale. They are currently the largest commercially made model trains readily available from a variety of manufacturers. Their scale varies from 1:20.5 to 1:32 of the prototype (real) thing. That is to say, the real trains are 20.5 to 32 times as large as our models. Some manufacturers take great pains to include all details in their scale size and some simplify the size or the details to make them practical for model application.Most of these trains are powered by electricity, with up to 26 volts DC and 5 amps delivered to the locomotives through the rails. Others operate from batteries carried on the train and still others use live steam-generated by burning a fuel to boil water and create steam, just like real steam locomotives. Some are controlled by power packs hooked to the track and others by remote control.Starter sets, complete with engine, cars, track, and power pack, cost between $100 and $500. Many quality engines may be bought for $200-$250, but they can range from about $100 to many thousands. Passenger cars usually cost between $100 and $200, but some are as little as $30. Good freight cars cost $50-$100, but many cost either more or less. Bargain hunters and people willing to shop can always find lower prices than these.

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$30. Good freight cars cost $50-$100, but many cost either more or less. Bargain hunters and people willing to shop can always find lower prices than these.​

The choice of equipment is almost endless. There are American Trains and European Trains. There are diesel engines and steam engines. There are freight trains, passenger trains, work trains, trolleys, and whimsical trains. Most people think model trains are found around the Christmas Tree, in the basement, or in a spare room, but many of us put our Large Scale Trains outside in the yard to combine two hobbies: model railroading and gardening.

How much finesse people put into their Large Scale layouts depends on the person. Some of us are content to do little more than put a loop of track down, connect a couple of wires and watch the trains run. Others build beautiful gardens with plants, streams, ponds, and waterfalls and blend in a model railroad with bridges, tunnels, and buildings. Still others create miniature villages and pick up and deliver cargoes at them. How much you do depends on your desire and imagination. Kids especially are fascinated with our large trains, and our trains are made to be handled and played with.

Don't have any trains yet? No problem! You can learn what works from other members and then choose you own style.​​

At the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, they have a layout and they like it when HAGG members show up to run trains.